Johanna von Chortulansky (geb. Hanna)

Johanna Hanna was born in Vienna as the legitimate daughter of master turner Anton Hanna and Johanna, née Groß. Nothing has been preserved about her childhood and youth.

In 1941, she began a relationship with the now stateless former Polish citizen Ladislaus von Chortulansky. This relationship resulted in an illegitimate son in February 1943. This led to Johanna Hanna breaking away from her parents and moving in with Ladislaus von Chortulansky.

Immediately before the birth of their son in February 1943, Ladislaus von Chortulansky was in occupied Poland to settle an inheritance. There, he was approached by members of the Armia Krajowa (the Polish Home Army) and asked if he would like to join them. He agrees and is instructed to obtain information about the German Wehrmacht in Vienna. This information would be passed on to the Polish government in exile in London, which would pass it on to the British secret service.

Back in Vienna, Ladislaus von Chortulansky became actively involved in the resistance, meeting regularly with members of the Armia Krajowa, gathering information and supplying members with weapons. His partner Johanna Hanna wrote reports on a typewriter.

Ladislaus von Chortulansky's activities did not go unnoticed by the Gestapo. He was arrested on April 14, 1943 and Johanna Hanna was also arrested on December 14, 1944. In a trial before the People's Court, she was sentenced to eight years in prison for involvement in 'treason' and 'espionage'.

On April 3, 1945, she was freed from prison. Her husband, who had been sentenced to death, was transferred to Stein an der Donau prison on April 5, 1945. On April 15, 1945, he and other prisoners were driven out of the prison by the SS and shot as they left the gate.

In May 1945, Johanna Hanna witnessed the liberation of Austria. On November 25, 1945, she marries Ladislaus von Chortulansky in posthumous death and becomes involved in the ÖVP Comradeship of the Politically Persecuted and Confessors for Austria. She then worked as an employee and eventually retired.

Johanna von Chortulansky died in Vienna at the age of 82 and was laid to rest at the cemetery in Vienna-Hernals.